There are times when I ditch the camera and just let loose & have a good time.  Wednesday night was one of those times.  At the last minute we decide to head over to post & watch the 4th of July fireworks.  I normally skip these things because 1) post is pretty far from home; 2) my kids are in German school & usually have school the next day.  Thursday was a teacher work day, the weather was good, I didn’t feel like cooking… so off to post we went.

I’m so glad we did!  Our MWR (Morale, Welfare & Recreation) put on a fabulous, mostly free, event.  I had no idea it was so much more than just great fireworks.  We parked at our friends unit, they’d left their space open hoping we’d make it down, thank goodness, there was absolutely no open parking on base.  We joined them for a little bbq, then the kids & I wandered over to Husky Field to check out the fun stuff.

Um.  Wow!  There were tons of blow-up slides, jump-y things, and beat-your-friends-with-plastic-sticks-things.  Not to mention face-painting, food booths, games (with prizes) and a band!  A band!  Once Tess & Dane discovered the band, that was it.  Both love music and both were beyond excited to stand RIGHT IN FRONT of the stage.  How cool is that?  How up, close & personal can you get?

Of course, as soon as we realized there was a band on stage, and as soon as we got to the front, it was time for them to take a break.  Luckily they came off the front of the stage & Tess got a couple of fistbumps from the band.  She became an instant groupie.  We quickly ran back to our group, I handed off the camera to Dave & grabbed $10 to buy Tess her groupie shirt (CDs were free!).  Then we ran back just in time to hear one of our favorite songs, Free Falling by Tom Petty, being played.

At first Dane spent all his time on my shoulders, trying to blind me with his little hands, before getting down & worming his way up onto the stage.  Yes, part of me wishes I’d had my camera on me, but I was also really glad to just enjoy the music, singing and dancing without worrying about the camera bouncing on my chest.  Tess spent her time in front of the guitarist, then the bassist, then the drummer.  Total groupie.

Near the end Dane got tired and asked back up on my shoulders.  Just in time for the dance-off!  The lead singer announced that the best dancer would win a FREE shirt.  I love FREE!  Dane & I danced away, of course winning the free shirt.  The band was very impressed that I could dance an entire song with a 12-year-old on my shoulders (shhhhh! Don’t tell them he’s only 5.  They might take my free shirt.).

A huge shout-out to all the members in Willy Pete!  You guys made our 4th of July spectacular.  Thank you for working so hard, traveling so tirelessly and being incredibly enthusiastic every moment of your performance.  You brought a little bit of home with you, and that is priceless.